July 18, 2011

Governor Corbett: $3.8 Million will Improve Operations at Eight Airports

by ssavage

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --An investment of $3.8 million in federal and state funds will improve operations at eight Pennsylvania airports, Governor Tom Corbett announced today.

"I support creating and sustaining jobs across all sectors of our economy, and transportation is no exception," Governor Corbett said. "The aviation industry employs more than 290,000 people statewide, which is nearly 5 percent of the state workforce. These investments go directly to improving operations at the airports that are responsible for so many jobs."

The state portion of funding - $85,726 from PennDOT's aviation development program - comes from the state's jet fuel tax and leverages more than $108,887 in local matching funds.

The Federal Aviation Administration is providing nearly $3.7 million in grants through the block grant program, which is funded through taxes collected nationally on airline tickets, freight waybills, international departure fees, and sale of aviation fuel. Airports receive up to 95 percent of eligible project costs for projects included in Pennsylvania's 12-year transportation program.

Public-use airports in the state are eligible for the aviation development program. Airports eligible for the federal block grant program include: general aviation airports, designated reliever airports, and non-primary commercial airline airports (those with fewer than 10,000 annual passengers) that are part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

The state has 133 public-use airports and heliports and 15 airports have scheduled commercial service.

For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us and then click on the "Public Participation 2013 Program Update" button, or call 717-783-8800.